Continuing on the Way - Hill Lucre
Well, the time grew on that the pilgrims must go on their way; wherefore they prepared for their journey. They sent for their friends; they conferred with them; they had some time set apart, therein to commit each other to the protection of their Prince. There were again those that brought them such things as they had, that were fit for the weak and strong, for the women and the men; and so laded them with such things as were necessary.
"Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary." Acts 28:10
Then they set forward on their way; and their friends accompanying them so far as was convenient, they again committed each other to the protection of their King, and parted.
They therefore that were of the pilgrims' company went on, and Mr. GREAT-HEART went before them. Now the women and children being weakly, they were forced to go as they could bear; by this means, Mr. READY-TO-HALT and Mr. FEEBLE-MINDED had more to sympathise with their condition.
When they were gone from the townsmen, and when their friends had bid them farewell, they quickly came to the place where FAITHFUL was put to death. There, therefore, they made a stand, and thanked him that had enabled him to bear his cross so well; and the rather, because they now found that they had a benefit by such a manly suffering as his was.
They went on, therefore, after this, a good way further, talking of CHRISTIAN and FAITHFUL, and how HOPEFUL joined himself to CHRISTIAN after that FAITHFUL was dead.
Now they were come up with the Hill Lucre, where the silver mine was which took DEMAS off from his pilgrimage, and into which, as some think, BY-ENDS fell and perished; wherefore they considered that. But when they were come to the old monument that stood over against the Hill Lucre, to wit, the pillar of salt that stood also within view of Sodom and its stinking lake, they marvelled, as did CHRISTIAN before, that men of knowledge and ripeness of wit, as they were, should be so blind as to turn aside here. Only they considered again that nature is not affected with the harms that others have met with; especially if that thing upon which they look has an attracting virtue upon the foolish eye.
I saw now that they went on till they came to the river that was on this side of the Delectable Mountains; to the river where the fine trees grow on both sides, and whose leaves, if taken inwardly, are good against surfeits, where the meadows are green all the year long, and where they might lie down safely.
"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Psalms 23:1-3
By this riverside, in the meadow, there were cotes and folds for sheep; a house built for the nourishing and bringing up of those lambs, the babes of those women that go on pilgrimage.
Also there was here One that was intrusted with them, who could have compassion; and that could gather these lambs with his arm; and carry them in his bosom; and that could gently lead those that were with young.
"Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity." Hebrews 5:2
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD." Isaiah 2:2-5
"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins." Isaiah 40:1, 2
Now to the care of this Man, CHRISTIANA admonished her four daughters to commit their little ones; that by these waters they might be housed, harboured, succoured, and nourished; and that none of them might be lacking in time to come. This Man, if any of them go astray or be lost, he will bring them again; he will also bind up that which was broken; and will strengthen them that are sick.
"And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD." Jeremiah 23:4
"For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment." Ezekiel 34:11-16
Here they will never want meat, and drink, and clothing; here they will be kept from thieves and robbers, for this Man will die before one of those committed to his trust shall be lost. Besides, here they shall be sure to have good nurture and admonition, and shall be taught to walk in right paths; and that, you know, is a favour of no small account. Also here, as you see, are delicate waters; pleasant meadows; dainty flowers; variety of trees, and such as bear wholesome fruit. Fruit, not like that which MATTHEW ate of, that fell over the wall out of Beelzebub's garden: but fruit that procures health where there is none, and that continues and increases it where it is.
So they were content to commit their little ones to him; and that which was also an encouragement to them so to do was, for that all this was to be at the charge of the King, and so was a hospital to young children and orphans